[Refractory ascites: a fifteen-year experience with the peritoneovenous shunt]. / L'ascite irriducibile: 15 anni di esperienza con la derivazione peritoneo-venosa (DPV).

The authors consider the various causes of ascites and they also develop the concept of refractory ascites. They consider the various possibilities of medical and dietary therapy whose failure constitutes the basis for a surgical approach. In the latter case it is being considered the Peritoneo Venous Shunt (PVS) that employs different types of valves. In the light of their personal experience, matured over a period of 15 years, in which 75 valves were positioned in 64 patients and precisely: 55 valves of Le Veen, 15 Hakim and 5 Denver, it is emphasized that the best results, as for as mortality and morbidity goes, were obtained through careful attention in the preoperative stage and during surgery itself with the privileged use of a Le Veen's valve. For such motives, since in a high percentage of these patients there persists a poor prognosis a year away from the onset of refractory ascites, a PVS seems proposable anyway and even though this will not alter the pathological outcome, there's a clear improvement in the quality of life without precluding any other surgical approach. Finally, the authors outline the possibilities offered by the Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS), as a new original approach for the resolution of refractory ascites.

[Rhabdomyosarcoma. Presentation of a case with abdominal localization]. / Il rabdomiosarcoma. Presentazione di un caso a localizzazione addominale.

The Authors report a case of rhabdomyosarcoma observed in a 17-year-old boy. They emphasize that this rare form has an extremely rapid evolution, and in this case was also in an unusual site and of abnormal size. The difficulty of an early diagnosis and the impossibility of radical surgery are also underlined.

[Insular carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Observation of a clinical case]. / Carcinoma insulare della tiroide. Osservazione di un caso clinico.

We present a case report about a patient affected by an "insular" thyroid carcinoma, a poorly differentiated carcinoma, situated morphologically and biologically in an intermediate position between the well-differentiated (papillary and follicular) and the totally undifferentiated thyroid tumors. We believe that its separation from other types of thyroid cancer will lead to a more accurate estimate of its prognosis and a more aggressive therapeutic approach.

[Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) as a tumor marker in disorders of the digestive tract: comparison with CEA]. / Il tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) come marker tumorale nelle affezioni dell'apparato digerente: confronto con il CEA.

TPA and CEA were both assayed in a population of 352 diseases of the gastroenteric tract and control subjects. The results show that TPA though sensitive has no predictive value or specificity comparable to CEA. However should specific tumour markers prove negative TPA may be an extremely useful aid in monitoring patients with gastrointestinal neoplasias.

[Immunotrypsinogen and amylase isoenzymes in pancreatic diseases]. / Immunotripsinogeno e isoenzimi dell'amilasi nelle pancreatopatie.

Serological tests used in pancreatic diseases, especially isoamylase analysis and trypsin radioimmunoassay are presented. The results show that these markers are helpful in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatic diseases.

[Surgical treatment of endocrine tumors of the pancreas]. / Il trattamento chirurgico dei tumori endocrini del pancreas.

Following a brief review of the literature dealing with the rarity of this disease, and the diagnostic progress made to date, the surgical techniques applicable to the various locations of the neoplasia are described. Personal experience with 8 insuloma patients is reported.

[Septic complications in subclavian vein catheterization]. / Complicanze settiche dell'incannulamento della vena succlavia.

Authors have studied the incidence of septic complications due to subclavian vein catheterization, According to literature, have considered that this is generally connected to the operating ability. Septic contamination, though of high incidence, only exceptionally is reason of a septic clinical condition.